Non-refillable bottle.



G. B. BURROWS. NON-BEFILLABLB BOTTLE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1a, 1908.

1,032,357. Patented July 9, 1912.

wane ens: 'Invenior: 76am (9?. CkzrenceBBurrou/u COLUMBIA PLANDORAPH COWASHINGTON. D. c.

llN 1T @TAE% PART @FF1@E CLARENCE B. BUEB-OWS, OF PHILADELPHIA,PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF FIVE- TWELFTI-IS T0 CHAR/LES F. BURROV/S,ONE-TWELFTH TO MICHAEL E. JENKINS, AND ONE-TWELFTH T0 JESSIE C. JOHNSON,ALL OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, AND Tl/VO-TWELFTHS TO THQMAS H. PIM, O1?MERICHANTVILLE, NEW JERSEY.

NON-REFILLABLE BOTTLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 9, 1912.

Application filed August 18, 1908. Serial No. 449,024.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CLARENCE B. BUR- ROWS, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Philadelphia, in thecounty of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented anImprovement in Non-lie fillahle Bottles, of which the followingdescription, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is aspecification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

My invention relates to non-refillable bottles, being more particularlyconcerned with the provision of an improved and automatically actuatedvalve for effecting the closure of the bottle when the latter is movedto a liquid-receiving position.

My invention will be best understood by reference to the followingdescription, when taken in connection with the accompanying illustrationof one specific embodiment thereof while its scope'will be moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings,Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section, showing aclosing device embodying one form of my invention and applied to abottle; Fig. 2 shows the position of the valve when the bottle is movedto a liquid discharging inclination; Fig. 8 is a similar view, showingthe valve when moved to a liquid receiving inclination; Fig. 1 is a sideelevation, partly in sec tion, of the closure shown in Fig. 1, but in aplane at rightangles thereto; Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 inFig. 1, showing the baffle plate in plan and partially broken away; andFig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, and to the embodiment of my invention which Ihave se lected for illustration, the closure for the exit passage in theneck 1 of the bottle 2 comprises a valve seat 3, located. near thejuncture of the neck with the bottle, a valve 4, a casing or surroundingbody 5 constituting a runway for the valve, and a baffle plate 6 formedat the end of the casing 5.

The seat 3 is provided with a seat opening 7, which is normally closedby the flat face 8 of the valve, which is of greater diameter than thediameter. of the seat opening. In order that the valve may beautomatically actuated to close the seat opening on movement of thebottle from a liquid discharging position to a horizontal or otherliquid receiving position, 1 have so constructed the valve that it issensitively responsive to gravity and quickly falls back to close theseat opening immediately on the approach of the bottleneck to ahorizontal position. lVhile this may be accomplished in various ways, inthe present embodiment of my invention I have formed the valve 4 with aconvex taper, as shown, so that the upper or forward end is of reducedcross section and constitutes a solid piece, the surface of which ismade up of curved elements. Cooperating with the valve, 1 have formed inthe surrounding casing 5 a tapered recess 9, having a V shapedlongitudinal cross section. The recess 9 presents to the valve aninclined runway such that when the bottle neck is moved to a liquidreceiving position, either horizontal or inclined, the valve is causedto slide down the runway and drops back of its own weight against theseat- 3, closing the seat opening 7. If the bottle neck is tipped to aliquid discharging position, past the horizontal, the valve of its ownweight drops away from the seat as represented in Fig. 2.

In order to permitthe escape of the liquid when the bottle is moved to aliquid discharging position, the casing is provided with longitudinalpassages 10, formed in the outer walls of the casing and preferably, asshown in Fig. 4, by cutting through the walls of the casing to therecess 9. \Vith the valve in the position shown in Fig. 2, this providesa passage from the interior of the bottle through the seat opening 7,thence laterally to the passages 9 and lengthwise through the saidpassages to and beneath the battle plate 6.

In order to prevent access to the valve and tampering with the sameafter it has been installed, the battle plate is provided with openings11, which are offset as shown in Fig. 5 from the longitudinal passages10, making it therefore impossible for the valve to be reached from theexterior after the closure has been installed in the neck of the bottle.

As the bottle is tipped to a horizontal po sition from a liquiddischarging position and the valve moves toward the position shown inFig. 3, it moves toward the seat,

with its larger flat face maintained parallel with the valve seat sothat it effects a perfect closure as soon as it contacts therewith. Aclosing device, constructed as disclosed, constitutes in practice anextremely sensitive automatic closure, and, since its actuation isdependent on gravity, it responds instantly to the movements of thebottle from a liquid discharging to a liquid receiving posit-ion.

In the initial installation of the described form of closure the partsdescribed, which may be formed of molded glass, are preferably held withthe valve unseated by some such means as represented in Fig. l. As thereshown, prior to insertion in the bottle neck a semi-flexible member,such as a small piece of wire 12, is doubled on itself and, with thecommon end projecting through one of the baffle plate openings 10, thetwo branched ends of the wire are laid into the longitudinal passages 10and the tips of the wire bent beneath the valve 4, so as to lift it ofiits seat. In this condition the entire closure can be inserted in theneck of the bottle, and after the bottle is filled the semi-flexiblewire can be readily withdrawn by engaging the twisted or looped end 13by an appropriate tool. The withdrawal of the wire releases the valveand places itin an active and operative condition.

In its initial formation the bottle 2 is provided with an inwardlyprojecting, shouldered portion l l and a straight neck. The closure,when inserted, seats against the shoulder 14 and, after insertion, adepression15 is formed in the neck just above'the bafiie plate 6,thereby forming a shoulder to retain the closure against subsequentremoval.

It will be noticed that the tapered convex shape of the valve not onlyprovides a single point of contact only for the valve upon its inclinedrunway, thereby reducing the friction to a minimum and making itdelicately responsive to gravity, but also brings the center of gravityof the valve back of or below the plane of contact, thereby causing itto act immediately and move toward the seat upon movement of the bottleto a liquid receiving position.

While I have shown and described for purposes of illustration onespecific embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that thesame is not limited to the details of construction or relativearrangement of parts herein shown, but that extensive deviations may bemade from the described embodiment without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

Claim:

A non-refillable bottle having a closure for the discharge passagecomprising a seat provided with an opening, a valve having a base ofgreater diameter than the diameter of the seat opening and having atapered end, an inclined runway for the valve consisting of a chamberprovided with tapered V walls surrounding the valve, the tapered wallsof said chamber and valve being formed to diverge lengthwise the valve,and said valve being formed to have contact with the chamber walls whilestill seated and to present its center of gravity at the rear of thepoint of contact, thereby to permit a rocking or sliding movement of thevalve to its seat when the bottle is moved to a liquid receivingposition.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CLARENCE B. BURROWS.

WVitnesses:

THOMAS B. BOOTH, EVERETT S. EMERY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, 1). G. Y

